Combined salt and pepper shaker



Dec. 8, 1931. w. w. c. CARSON COMBINED SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER Filed Dec.31, 1929 3W1 W. WGCaraon i l fllll l i ll 4h.

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 PATENT OFFICE I WILLARD W. C. OAR-SON, CHICAGO,ILLINOIS GOMBINEDSALT AND rnrrnn SHAKER Application filed December 31,1929. Serial 1V0. 417,762.

This invention relates to a combination salt and pepper shaker of thetype wherein a re ceptaele is divided into separate compartments toreeeivethe salt and pepper, and one object of the inventionis to providethe receptacle with an improved type of cap by means of which passage ofsalt and pepper from the compartments of the receptacle may becontrolled and thereby allow either one or '10 both to be dispensed whenthe shaker is in use.

Another object of the invention is to so form the cap that when it isapplied to the receptacle it will be held against rotation thereon andthereby retained in such position that openings or perforations throughwhich the salt and pepper are to pass will be retained in properposition relative to the compartments of the receptacle.

Another object of the invention is to provide the cap with improvedmeans for controlling passage of salt and pepper through theperforations and so mount a plate constitutin part of the same that itmay be swung into 5 position to rest flat against the cap in coveringrelation to a selected set of perforations or disposed in such positionthat both salt and pepper maybe dispensed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinFigure 1 is a view showing the improved salt and pepper shaker in sideelevation,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the salt and pepper shaker,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken longitudinally through thesalt and pepper shaker,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing the cap in section, the view beingtaken at right angles to Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3,and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through portions of the cap andclosure plate.

The receptacle 1 of this combination salt and pepper shaker may beformed of any meterial desired and has its lower end formed with abottom 2. This receptacle which is open at its upper end may be circularor any other desired shape in cross section and is disize that they mayfit into the openings vided into compartments 3 and 4 to receive pepperand salt by a partition 5 which extends longitudinally of the receptaclediametrically thereof, as clearly shown in Figures 8 and 5. Near theupper or outer end of the receptacle is mounted a strip 6 which extendsparallel to the partition 5 close to one side thereof but the strip isof such thinness that it does not interfere with passage of salt orpepper into or out of the compartment. 1

In order to close the outer end of the receptacle, there has beenprovided a cap 7 having a head 8 and a rim 9 about its margins of suchdimensions that the rim fits tightly about the receptacle when the capis applied thereto. A tongue 10 extends downwardly from the head 8diametrically thereof and at its ends is spaced slightly from the rim 9,as shown in Figure 4, so that the cap may be fitted upon the receptaclewith the tongue extending between the partition 5 and strip 6. By thisarrangement the cap will be prevented from .turning upon the receptacleand will at all times be retained in its proper position with theopenings 11 communicating with the compartment in which salt is placedand the smaller openings 12 communicating with the compartment fill-edwith pepper.

Passage of salt and pepper out of the compartments 3' and 4: through theopenings in the cap is'controlled by means of a plate 13 whichcorresponds in dimension to one-half the head 8 and is formed with a lip14. This plate or shield is folded tightly about a pivot pin 15, asshown at 16, so that it is firmly 85 fixed to the pin and the pin hasits end portions rotatably engaged in bearings 17 and formed with heads18 at its ends which are preferablyelliptical in shape. The pin 15extends directly above the tongue 10 parallel thereto and, therefore,the shield or plate is so mounted that it may be swunginto position-tocover either'the openings 11 or the openings 12" but may be disposed ina vertical position in which-case all of the openings will be uncoveredand both salt and pepper may be dispensed at the same time. In order totightly close the openings 11 and 12, the plate is stamped to form lugs19 and 20 of such w formed through the head of the cap. It will thus beseen that when the shield or plate is swung into position to cover oneset of openings or perforations the lugs projecting from its undersurface will fit into these openings and tightly close the same. \Vhenthe plate in a set position to cover one set of openings, it is desiredto prevent it from accidentally swinging away from the head of the cap,and in order to do so, there has beenprovided Y plungers 21 which areslidably engaged through openings formed in the upper ends of springmountings 22. The mountings 22 constitute closed casings which houseopen coilsprings 25. The plungers 21 obtain a close fit in the upperends of the casings. These plungers have heads 23 at their upper endswhich bear against the heads 18 of the pivot pin and at their lower endsare formed with heads 24; engaged by springs 25. By this arrangement theplungers will be yieldably held in a raised position with their heads 23hearing against the heads 18 of the pivot pin and since the heads of thepivot pin are non-circular in shape it is necessary to grasp the plateby its lip 14 and forcibly move it upwardly in order to move it awayfrom the head of the cap. After the plate has been moved past a verticalposition the action of the plungers against the heads of the pivot pinwill cause the plate to swing downwardly to an operative position. Ifmovement of the plate is stopped when it is directly above the tongue10, it will remain in the raised position and both salt and pepper maybe dispensed. It will thus be seen that by means of this improvedconstruction either salt or pepper or a combination of the two may bedispensed from the receptacle.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A pepper and salt shaker comprising a receptacle, a partition thereindividing the receptacle into longitudinal compartments, a cap fitted to,the open end of the receptacle and closing the compartments thereof andprovided with openings for the discharge of the contents, a pivotmountedon the cap in line with the partition and having its endsprojecting and terminating in elongated heads beyond the sides of thecap, casings at the sides of the cap in line with the partition, springsin the casings, plungers passing through the upper ends of the casingsand provided with upper and lower heads, the lower heads engaging thesprings within the casings and the upper heads engaging the elongatedheads at the ends of the pivot, and a closure plate for the openings ofthe cap fast to the said pivot and held thereby either in line with thepartition or against either side of the cap to close the openingsthereof.

2. A pepper and salt shaker comprising receptacle, a partition thereindividing the receptacle into longitudinal compartments, a cap fitted tothe open end of the receptacle and closing the compartments thereof andprovided with openings for the discharge of the contents, a tonguedepending from the cap and overlapping and in contact with thepartition, a pivot mounted on the cap in line with the tongue andprojecting beyond the sides of the cap and terminating in elongatedheads, a closure plate fast to the pivot, casings at the sides of thecap, springs in the easings, and plungers passing through the upper endsof the casings and having heads at both ends in contact with saidsprings and the elongated heads at the ends of the pivot to hold theclosure plate in desired adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLARD W. o. CARSON. [1,. 5.

